a number of political capacities as could be expected of assemblies chosen then upon general principles.  The hour had not arrived for more profound analysis of the social compact.  Philip was accordingly deposed justly, legally formally justly, because it had become necessary to abjur a monarch who was determined not only to oppress; but to exterminate his people; legally, because he had habitually violated the constitutions which he had sworn to support; formally, because the act was done in the name of the people, by the body historically representing the people.

What, then, was the condition of the nation, after this great step had been taken?  It stood, as it were, with its sovereignty in its hand, dividing it into two portions, and offering it, thus separated, to two distinct individuals.  The sovereignty of Holland and Zealand had been reluctantly accepted by Orange.  The sovereignty of the united provinces had been offered to Anjou, but the terms of agreement with that Duke had not yet been ratified.  The movement was therefore triple, consisting of an abjuration and of two separate elections of hereditary chiefs; these two elections being accomplished in the same manner, by the representative bodies respectively of the united provinces, and of Holland and Zealand.  Neither the abjuration nor the elections were acted upon beforehand by the communities, the train-bands, or the guilds of the cities—­all represented, in fact, by the magistrates and councils of each; nor by the peasantry of the open country—­all supposed to be represented by the knights and nobles.  All classes of individuals, however; arranged in various political or military combinations, gave their acquiescence afterwards, together with their oaths of allegiance.  The people approved the important steps taken by their representatives.

Without a direct intention on the part of the people or its leaders to establish a republic, the Republic established itself.  Providence did not permit the whole country, so full of wealth intelligence, healthy political action—­so stocked with powerful cities and an energetic population, to be combined into one free and prosperous commonwealth.  The factious ambition of a few grandees, the cynical venality of many nobles, the frenzy of the Ghent democracy, the spirit of religious intolerance, the consummate military and political genius of Alexander Farnese, the exaggerated self-abnegation and the tragic fate of Orange, all united to dissever this group of flourishing and kindred provinces.

The want of personal ambition on the part of William the Silent inflicted perhaps a serious damage upon his country.  He believed a single chief requisite for the united states; he might have been, but always refused to become that chief; and yet he has been held up for centuries by many writers as a conspirator and a self-seeking intriguer.  “It seems to me,” said he, with equal pathos and truth, upon one occasion, “that I was born in this